Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog

Driving Under the Influence Suspected Cause of Fatal Three Car Maryland Crash

April 28, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Over the past five years, nearly 800 people in Maryland have been killed in crashes involving impaired drivers and over 10,000 people per year die throughout the United States in alcohol-impaired crashes. Each year, tens of thousands of people are arrested on Maryland roads for drunk or impaired driving. The state currently deploys a specialized team of five trained Maryland State troopers assigned to the State Police Impaired Driving Reduction Effort (SPIDRE) to enforce impaired driving laws. Since 2013, State Troopers in SPIDRE have taken more than 4,000 impaired drivers off of Maryland roads.

What Makes Drunk Driving So Dangerous?

Alcohol-impaired drivers are particularly dangerous for a number of reasons. Impaired drivers have reduced levels of concentration and slower reaction times when processing their surroundings. Additionally, drunk drivers suffer from lesser hand-eye coordination and they are more likely to use poor judgment and suffer from memory loss while under the influence. All of these factors greatly increase the likelihood of impaired drivers being involved in car accidents. Signs of impaired drivers on the road include but aren’t limited to, quick acceleration or deceleration, weaving across the road, erratic breaking, slow response to traffic signals, or excessively slow driving (10 mph below the speed limit). When driving, exercise extreme caution if you spot any of these signs from other drivers on the road. In 2016, Maryland implemented stricter drunk driving laws throughout the state, including harsher penalties and an Ignition Interlock Program. A recent news report detailed a Maryland car crash.

According to the news report, the fatal accident occurred in the afternoon on March 30, when a 2008 Toyota Tundra was traveling southbound on Ritchie Highway when it ran a red light. The Toyota Tundra drove through the intersection and collided with a 2007 Chevrolet Equinox turning left into the Marley Station Mall. A third vehicle, a 2013 BMW, that was turning left into the mall was hit by the other two vehicles in the process. The 36-year-old passenger of the Chevrolet Equinox was pronounced dead at the scene. The 60-year-old driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The 35-year-old driver of the Toyota Tundra was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, while the 13-year-old passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the BMW was not injured. According to the police, evidence suggests that the driver of the Toyota Tundra was under the influence of alcohol and speeding at the time of the accident. The crash remains under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

Maryland Hit-and-Run Accident Leads to Death of Pedestrian

March 31, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The rules and laws of the road have been put in place for a reason: to help keep all road users safe. Whether it is coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, or using proper turning signals to indicate maneuvers when appropriate, following the local and federal rules can play a huge role in keeping others safe. Road users range from drivers of cars, large trucks, motorcycles, motorized scooters or bikes, pedestrians, and more. In addition to other vehicles on the road, car users must be mindful of pedestrians who may be using crosswalks or attempting to cross a road at any given time.

According to a recent news report, a pedestrian was struck while crossing the street in Prince George’s County, Maryland. A white truck ran a red light and struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk. Authorities believe that the driver left the accident scene, but later returned. The accident is still being investigated.

When tragedy strikes pedestrians, it can be a shocking and painful experience. Figuring out what to do after a loved one is severely injured in an accident may lead to loved ones scrambling to figure out what to do next. Connecting with an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.

Car Plunges into a Maryland House and Lands Upside-Down

February 21, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There are times when the details of a car crash sound like the details are coming from a script from a movie. Cars crashing into homes, cars plunging into the water, cars launching and spinning mid-air, etc. However, sometimes these accidents occur in real life and are dangerous for everyone involved.

According to a recent report, a driver survived a shocking car crash in Chillum, Maryland. An SUV was launched, spinning into the air and landed upside-down in the wall of a house. The vehicle’s back wheels were almost touching the partially-collapsed ceiling of the home. As a result, part of the wall of the home collapsed, and a part of the staircase was visible from the outside. After the crash, the driver of the vehicle was able to exit the car himself. According to initial reports, the driver was traveling up a hill, ended up spinning in the air, and landing on the inside of the house. Luckily, neither the driver nor anyone in the home was injured.

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Driver Charged in Fatal DUI Crash in Annapolis

January 21, 2023 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous but highly illegal. The chances of crashes and fatal accidents increase when drivers are inhibited because they are less able to react to situations that come up on the road or exercise poor judgment while driving. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Maryland drivers reported driving after drinking at a higher rate than the national reporting rate. In fact, between 2009 and 2018, 1,515 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in Maryland. The CDC has found that over 10,000 people per year die in such crashes throughout the country. A recent article discussed a local fatal crash where alcohol was involved.

According to the news article about a recent crash involving an intoxicated driver, the accident occurred in the evening around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, when a 2001 Volvo S80 with a driver and a passenger was traveling on Solomons Island Road approaching eastbound Route 665 when the vehicle left the right side of the roadway and struck a utility pole, crashing. The crash was a single-vehicle accident. Immediately following the collision with the utility pole, the passenger, who was in the front seat, was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries. The passenger was later pronounced deceased. Due to roadside observations, the driver of the car was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and placed under arrest by authorities for further testing. The crash is currently under investigation by the Traffic Safety Section

Does My Negligence Affect My Maryland Case?

Contributory Negligence is a legal concept that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident, if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims.

Maryland Crash Involving High-Speed Leads to Three Fatalities

December 21, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It is no surprise that speeding can lead to serious and devasting injuries for the driver involved in speeding and for other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020, speeding killed 11,258 people, or an average of 30 people a day. Some of the risks that result from driving a vehicle at a high rate of speed include losing control of the vehicle, the increased degree of crash severity and severe injuries, and increased economic damages. Speeding is considered a form of aggressive driving. The high rate of speeding-related accidents may be attributed to multiple factors, including road rage, alcohol-impaired driving, running late, and traffic congestion.

A recent news report revealed that there was a multi-vehicle crash in Elkton, Maryland. A Hyundai was traveling east at a high rate of speed when it struck the passenger side of a Honda Civic as the driver attempted to make a left turn. The driver of the Hyundai and the driver and passenger of the Honda were all declared deceased at the scene. The highway was closed for six hours following the crash.

What Are the Maryland Driving Laws and Statute of Limitations?

In the state of Maryland, drivers are required to abide by the maximum speed limit and also always drive at a safe speed, which is required by the basic speeding law. A driver is in violation of Maryland’s maximum or absolute speed laws if they drive over the absolute speed limit. For example, if the absolute speed limit on a particular road is set at 40 mph and a driver exceeds that limit, they are in violation of law. Additionally, in Maryland, motorists must always drive at a safe speed under the circumstances. When these laws in Maryland are violated, it can put other motorists and pedestrians, and the speeding driver, at risk. If you are injured as a result of another driver’s speeding, you may be considering bringing a lawsuit to recover damages for any injuries you suffered as a result. In Maryland, for personal injury suits, there is a statute of limitations of 3 years, or in other words, a plaintiff will have a three-year deadline by which they must file their claims, with the time period starting at the date of the car accident.

High-Speed Driving Leads to Three Dead in Maryland Car Accident

December 11, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Speed limits are created in order to provide guidance for drivers on safe and reasonable speeds. Speed limits help keep drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists safe. There are various categories of speed limits that are set for different circumstances, may be set for different roads, or that can be set for different times. According to the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, statutory speed limits are established by State legislatures for specific types of roads. This includes for interstates, rural roasts, and urban streets, and these limits vary from state to state. Statutory speed limits are enforceable by law and can be applied even if the speed limit is not posted (I.e. statutory speed limits of 25 mph in school districts).

Posted speed limits, according to the Federal Highway Administration, are those that are sign-posted along the road and are also enforceable by law. Additionally, special conditions speed limits include school zone speed limits, which are used during specific hours when children are traveling to and from school, and also include work zone speed limits. Advisory speeds are posted for a small portion, such as a sharp curve or ramp to inform drivers of safe driving speeds. A common misconception is that the federal government sets or enforces speed limit, when in actuality, this authority belongs to state and local agencies with jurisdiction.

A recent news report revealed that a two-car crash left three residents dead in Elkton, Maryland. According to the report, a 2014 Hyundai was traveling eastbound on Route 40 at a high rate of speed, slamming into the passenger side of a 2010 Honda Civic. The driver of the Honda was attempting to turn left. The Hyundai’s driver and two of the Honda’s occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash is still being investigated.

Fatal Crash in Baltimore Serves as Unfortunate Example of Detrimental Effects of Multi-Car Collisions

November 30, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Oftentimes, car collisions do not just involve two drivers on the road. Passengers, pedestrians, passersby, and police officers can also quickly become involved in accidents, especially when there are multiple vehicles involved in the crash. A recent collision in Maryland demonstrated the unfortunate effects of one driver’s detrimental mistake, a mistake that ultimately harmed several individuals and left another individual dead.

This crash re-surfaced in local news reports after the Maryland Attorney General’s office made public body camera videos from the October 8 incident. The videos show jarring images of the effects of a collision that left one individual dead and several others injured.

According to reports, officers in Baltimore were following a Honda CR-V when the car sped up and collided with two cars ahead of it. This original crash caused a chain reaction in which the cars collided with a fourth vehicle, ultimately creating a chaotic scene that confused other drivers on the road. One of the car’s passengers was a 17-year-old from Baltimore, and he ultimately died from injuries sustained in the crash.

One Maryland Person Dead After Ejected From Vehicle, Another Struck by Vehicle

November 17, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When one accident results in multiple tragedies, sort of like a chain-reaction, it can be extremely devastating, unexpected, and scary. An initial accident between two vehicles can lead to more vehicles becoming involved in a collision. After a car accident, it is important to immediately seek medical attention when necessary and notify proper authorities, and if there are no immediate injuries that require immediate attention, it can be additionally important to ensure that all parties involved are able to move to a safe location if on a busy road or highway.

According to a recent news report, a woman recently died in Maryland after being ejected from a crash involving multiple vehicles. The accident occurred near Maryland Route 100 in the Elkridge Area. A Porsche rear-ended a Mazda, and both drivers lost control of their vehicles. A passenger in the Mazda was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The Mazda’s driver and three other passengers were not injured. The driver of the Porsche got out of his vehicle, attempted to cross I-95, and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. The driver was taken to Shock Trauma. As a result, Southbound I-95 was shut down for about 5 hours.

Chain Reaction Collisions and Determining the At-Fault Driver

Family of Uber Driver Killed in Accident Makes Case Against Uber for Damages

October 27, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The mobile rideshare and gig economy has grown substantially in the last decade, and with this growth, challenges have arisen when determining liability for accidents involving gig-economy drivers while on the job. An accident involving a rideshare or food delivery driver may involve multiple insurance coverages at once, and in many instances, drivers’ and passengers’ claims with an insurance company after an accident are being illegitimately denied. A recently published news report discusses the plight of the family of a Maryland man who was killed in an accident while he was driving for Uber.

According to the facts discussed in the local news report, the deceased man had been a driver for Uber for over a year when he was killed in a head-on collision this past winter. The Uber driver was not at fault for the crash, as the other driver was intoxicated and driving the wrong way, which immediately caused the crash. Because the at-fault driver was not insured, the family of the deceased driver was forced to make a claim with uber to collect damages from the commercial auto insurance that uber carries on all of its drivers while they are actively using the driver app.

Are Uber Drivers Covered under the Company’s Insurance Policy?

Although the Uber website states that drivers were covered with up to $100,000 in uninsured motorist coverage while working, the insurance company only offered this driver’s family $30,000 of coverage for damages related to his death. Based on this misleading contradiction, the driver’s family has hired an attorney to pursue the full $100,000 in damages from the insurance company and Uber itself. Uber has responded to the lawsuit by claiming that the coverages offered are noted to “vary by state,” and that the exact coverages applied to this particular driver policy were outlined in the terms and conditions, which he affirmatively agreed to before starting to drive for uber.

Establishing Fault in Maryland Multi-Car Accidents

October 12, 2022 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Multi-car accidents can result in more than one injury or damage to more than one vehicle. Alternatively, a crash involving multiple vehicles can contribute to a single injury. On occasion, the injured person might have also contributed to their own injury as well as the other parties’ injuries. In these circumstances, determining who is at fault for a multi-car accident can be quite complex.

For example, according to a recent news article, a woman died following a three-vehicle crash in Baltimore County on the outer loop of I-695. The fatal accident occurred just before 1:00AM, when a car struck the side of a backhoe being escorted by two pickup trucks from the Maryland Department of Transportation. Then, the car hit the rear of the front pickup truck. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities are still investigating the precise cause of the crash.

How Does Maryland Law Apportion Fault in Car Accident Lawsuits?

A lawsuit brought after a multi-vehicle crash can involve several different theories of fault. Maryland law allows an injured person to sue two or more defendants for the same injury, such as two drivers of different cars. In other states, a court may apportion liability equally among all defendants. Known as joint liability, this theory is based on the idea that the defendants are all independently at fault for their own actions.